the legends - up against the legends
for a lot of people (mainly men) of a certain age this album will make them weep. some will weep with unbridled joy, others in despair. for this swedish 8 piece band have fused the best elements of the sound that wiped away the emotionally intensity of echo and the bunneymen, u2, simple minds et al and instead replaced those grey sounds with something far more innocent, colourful and fun.
single stand up drum with the obligatory tambourine perched on top for extra rhythmic effect, guitars fuzzed up, vocals fuzzed up, up tempo happy beats, sunshine melodies harmonised by the 3 (count'em!) girl backing singers - yes folks it's the glorious return of c86.
for me a lot of the bands featured on that fateful nme comp were truly awful, but for a while the shop assistants album and psychocandy by jesus and mary chain were on a continuous cassette loop on my non-sony walkman - oh those pre cd days .. when chrome tapes were cutting edge - with that extra white noise layer that only a second generation tape can provide. and lo, nearly 20 years later the legends have somehow fused these 2 components into one genetically modified whole to make an album that exudes sheer fun and pleasure.
lacking the marychains' reid bros gloom factor (but nicking the 'some candy talking' drumloop wholesale is very cheeky), and adding the shop assistants happy go lucky attitude to the sun drenched feedback the band have made one the most fun 30 minutes i have had the pleasure to hear in a long time.
so while the rest of the world is falling at the feet of the fat arse that is the reunion of the pixies, there are hopefully kids in stockholm feeling the adrenalin rush of joy when the legends take to the stage and belt these crackers out.
is it generic - yes. is it original - no. is it my new fave album in the world ever - yes. for the next few weeks anyway. and that's a result in my book..